Joel Embiid had 44 points and 17 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-108.
Embiid’s dunk answered Lamar Stevens’ 16-foot step-back jumper and put the 76ers back ahead for good with 4:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers got within 107-106 on Darius Garland’s 2 free throws with 57 seconds to play, but James Harden answered with 2 free throws, and the Cavaliers got no closer. They had the ball down 3 with 11 seconds left, but Matisse Thybulle stole the ball from Kevin Love. A 3-pointer would have tied the game.
Embiid’s free throw with 1.5 seconds left made it 112-108 and put it away.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Cavaliers 16-12. Embiid (No. 1 in clutch points, 2021-22) scored 6 of the 76ers’ 16 on 2 for 5 shooting and 2 for 3 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Harden had 4 of his 10 assists, 2 of them on baskets by Thybulle and Embiid that put the 76ers ahead.
Harden had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, his 11th triple-double of the season.
For the Cavaliers, Garland had 23 points and 4 steals, and Stevens added 18 points (10 in the paint) and 3 blocks off the bench.
The 76ers went 35 for 42 at the line to the Cavaliers’ 23 for 31. The Cavaliers got 7 offensive rebounds, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The 76ers were outscored 14-4 in 3 minutes with Jordan, Harden, Green, Harris and Korkmaz on the floor together. Lauri Markkanen fouled out.